Playing for Keeps

Late to the party for this series, but really enjoyed the first installment about members of an LGBTQ+ soccer (aka football) team. There were real stakes to the relationship between the MCs, and although I hate the Big Secret trope, there were good reasons why John wasn't honest with Fergus. What really made the book for me, though, was the way Cockburn captured the wonderful playfulness and tenderness of the couple's interactions as they fell in love. It made me believe that they were really meant for each other. Plus I learned something about Scottish religious sectarian clashes that I thought were limited to Northern Ireland. Apparently every country has its share of horrible people. But not the members of the Woodstoun Warriors, of course. Sign me up for more of these Lads!